Read the Safer Spaces policy

Reporting

What to report

Overview of the process:

If you are a reporting party and decide to continue with an investigation with the college after your initial meeting with a Safer Spaces coordinator, the process for the investigation will begin as follows, assuming that you want to go through the complete investigation process. If at any time you want to suspend your participation in the investigation for any reason, you have the right to do so. The Safer Spaces coordinator is able to provide more specifics for both the reporting and responding party to understand the process.

  1. The Safer Spaces coordinator will appoint a neutral investigator to begin the investigation.

  2. You and the other party will be able to choose an advisor or support person to accompany you to any/all meetings during the investigation

  3. You will attend a meeting where you will be asked to recount the incident and provide any physical or digital evidence you have and provide a list of witnesses (if there are any) who are able to speak about the incident.

  4. The investigator will meet with the other party in the same way.

  5. If the responding party accepts responsibility for the charges or the charges are dropped, an informal resolution may be accepted, which may range from a warning to suspension, termination or expulsion.

  6. After a full investigation is completed, the Safer Spaces coordinator and investigator(s) will determine:

    1. Whether the responding party is responsible for the charges brought against them.

    2. What consequences are appropriate for the circumstances, which may range from a warning to suspension, termination or expulsion.

  7. If, after an investigation, either of the parties contests the facts of the case, it will go to a hearing.

  8. In a hearing, three members of the Safer Spaces committee will be on the Hearing Panel. They will review the accounts of both parties written in report form and determine:

    1. Whether the responding party is responsible for the charges.

    2. What consequences the responding party will face if found responsible.

  9. After the determination of responsibility is made, both parties have the opportunity to appeal the sanctions of the decision or the decision based on new evidence.

Download the Safer Space’s Process Flowchart

What are my rights in Calvin’s process?

  1. The right to access accommodations regardless of whether you decide to pursue an investigation or report the incident to law enforcement.

  2. That your privacy will be protected so that only those actively involved in the case will have access to your identifying information.

  3. A prompt, fair and impartial resolution of your complaint, under the standard of evidence that it is more likely than not that the alleged conduct occurred.

  4. To have policies carried out by Safer Spaces coordinators and investigators trained annually on sexual violence, discrimination, harassment and retaliation and how to conduct an investigation that promotes safety and accountability.

  5. To have an advisor or support person accompany you to all aspects of the investigation and resolution process. An advisor may give quiet advice, but they may not act as an official representative. Both parties have the right to an advisor, even if the other party chooses not to have one.

  6. Protection from retaliation by the other party or anyone else for making a complaint or for participating in the investigation. Both the complainant and respondent are protected from retaliation.

  7. Assurance that both the reporting and responding parties will be notified simultaneously in writing of the outcome of all stages of the process, including the final decision of the investigation and sanctions (if applicable) and any appeals.